Machine for winding play balls



Aug. 19, 1952 P, REKETTYE 2,607,540

MACHINE FOR WINDING PLAY BALLS Filed 00T.. 1, 1946 2 SIlEETS-Sl-IEET l INVENTOR F `u 5 PAUL. EKETTYE ATVO: NEY5 Aug. 19, 1952 P. REKETTYE MACHINE FOR WINDING 'PL-AY BALLS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Oct.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 l 2.6072540 MACHINE lnon .WINDING PLAY BALLS Paul Rekettye, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The Sun RubberjCompany, Barberton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio j Animation october 1, 194s,seris1N0.7oo,'551

2 claims.y (c1. 242;-3)

The present invention relates to the art of manufacturing playor athletic balls in which a core or center composed of fabric and rubber is enclosed by aspiral wrapping'of a reinforcing strand or strands which are designed to limit the expansion or growth of the ball.

vThe operation of wrapping ball centers is well known in this art,A butprior mechanisms to apply" the wrapping fh'a've'fbeen either so crude as to be inein'cient, or so -complicated as to make'them unreliable andl expensive toA maintain and operate. As fa'result the general practise has beento wind a ball core by hand. L

It is the. object of the present invention to devise a'sim'ple and accurate machine for the alp-'-V plicationof multiple cord windings to centers of athleticiba'lls.' The machine which'is shown and described herein is easy to "operate and will cover a ball center more quickly and with a more evenly spaced accurate winding'thanI isv possible vwith previously known machines or methods.'

vIn certain ball constructions the vcenter or '1 bladder isprovided -with a long valve stemby which the ballis inflated. vOne form ofthe ma@- chine shown herein provides means by which the winding operation will progress continuously in spite 'of the presence of a long protruding valvev stem. Insuch cases means are incorporated in the machine to lift the cord'applicator when the winding operation has reached that point.

In other types of footballs a short' metal stem is provided and in such cases it is advisable to omitlthe means for lifting the cord applicator f and I'simply let it ride up over the valve stem.

If a? cord piles up on the end of the valve stem-A the operator stops the machine momentarily and adjusts the cord which is out of position.

The' machine shown herein may be set in operl ation and the'win'ding will continue until the core is covered,A requiring little attention on the vpart of the operator. y

In the drawings there are illustrated the best known and preferred embodiments of the invention in the form in which it has been successfully employed in the winding of football bladders or centers. The drawing and description are'not to be considered as limiting the invention to this specific mechanism Aas the invention is capable of modication, alteration or improvement Within the scopev thereof as set-forth in the claims.'

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front view.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the creel from which the multiple cords are supplied.

desirable to lift the applicator over fthefs'tem', and before the wrapping operation isstartedjafj 2 'f In the above views the machine is shown with the applicator raising mechanism and'in the' position when the cord applicator is at the centerof a football in the plane of the valve stem and* f`at the point in the operation when the applicato'rfaY is'raised to clear the stem.

Fig. 4 is a detail View looking at the front of 5 the cord applying arm. l

Fig. 5 is a vertical section Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isla fragmentary view of the machine showing the position of the arm shortly afterA the commencement ofthe winding operation.

Fig. 7 is lan enlarged detail view showingf` the manner in which the applicator rides vover a short valve-stem without being otherwise lifted. z -Y on thev 1in@ s-sjof In the drawings the reference numeral Iflndi# cates a bladder or center of a football; this usually l consisting of a rubber vbladder and an out'er ="pl'yv or plies" of areinforcing" fabric. l This structure is usually'given a partial cureso atto imparta permanent shape thereto and is coated with af cement which gives it a tacky surfacefto which 'I the cords will adhere. The reinforcing cord lay'er5 in the form illustrated is 'composed -of a plurality f of separate cords of the usual or standard-con- 'Y struction. In the drawings, these cords ar'eindi' The cords' cated at 2 and arefour in number; are supplied from a creel, indicated at 4 and are led through guide plate 5 attached to end of an upright 5a.

In Fig. `3 a long flexible valve stem is shownv at 6. In Fig. 7 a short metal valve stem is yindi-"- cated at 1. Either type of stem isknown' inthe" art. In case the valve stem lV is employed, it" is small -cone shaped, removable plug, indicated aty 6a in'v Fig. 3 is inserted in the end of the stem to act as a divider so that the cords will pafss to one side or the other of the stem and'notfbe'caught" and held on the top of the stem.

The eree1 is attached to the bed plate s ofthe machine on which is also mounted the motors which, through reduction gearing Ill, drives-the; center and also the cord applicator or cord laying arm. f Y

It is not necessary to cover thel 4ends of' the: center as these portions of the ball areusuallyV more heavily reinforced. The center is held by* p the end portions while it is rotated. lFor this" purpose there is provided a chuck comprising two" stanchions l2 at either side of the bed plate. In one of these stanchions, here shown at the right. is a cup shaped holder I4 which'is mounted on the upper i the end of .a thrust ro y the center i which is held at its othe1.end...in. a..,.

thereby to .the rotating -chuck lhcldin'gqthe bal-l,.r

` follows thecontourvof-the center at a rate vwhich d l5 having an enlarge inner end i6 and threaded outer end, the latter being received in a nut I8. The rod is slidably mounted in a rotating sleeve I9 journaled in the v stanchion. A spring surrounds V`the rod and 5 is located between theV enlarged end Hil anda threaded collar 22 in the'outer end of the sleeve. The portions-'1llisgleyedto the-.inner endiofthe.; sleeve aseindicatedi-at2'3-e(Fig. 6).? This arrangement permits the cupl i5 to be 10 moved outwardly for insertion and removal of.;

second cup shaped holder 24. The' holder Mis" mounted on the end of a shaft 'journaledl'ineg 1 theV upper end of the left-handfstancliion .12j-.152 The outer end of the shaft is provided with a hand Wheel 25 by Which the operatonfmay rotate.the. Work when applying the cement or for inspection and correction of any imperfections in theflwin'di.` ing. .20l

.The sleeve. i9 Vandthe 'shaft'. 25.v are-driven ,fin unisonto revolve the tcenter. during the winding i z .operationfff For. .1 this ...purpose-fa :sprocket -23=A `-is .f

fixed?. .tothe @sleeve 119.. and ea: corresponding.; sprocket.. .-29 is` .ixed -f .the f shaft VVr 2 5. .4. Thesey 25,` sprockets are connected bychains Vtlfto sprockets.;- 3 Ionfa l:main drivegjshaft. 32; rotatably mounted in bearings 34 rising from a .baseaplate wcnf. thei'mainbed plate g Power to drive the' mechanism is transmittediao.: to.` aipulley 453i mounted .on :the outer .end fof the shaft-25er A-fbelt 60 fisfftrainedfover this pulley and around; .a -.second1-pulley'= 4 lj which is..` carriedf 'zV onfanfarm- ..42 pifrvotedf..ataor-iepend.v one. the output sprocket 411.1- at .thee-reduction 'gfanS-connected byganchainfllvto .a sprocketfftemountede. so as r to,rotate .Ivviththepulleyv 4 l.: r. {Ijhe outer end-aofi; thearmaZ isguided-fin- Ythe upper end- .oir-a.4 post` 148-:v `rising:flonrthe bedaplateand'. yis -1urgedr-iup-:u4o-- Wardlyfby a -spring iiwagainst a rotatablef-camii lever?` i511: mounted :in theV Vupper endfof;` post-1 48e@ Infthe:` position. shown in Fig; 3 the beltris suflle: ciently loose .sof-that- :nofpovver f -is transmittedf E andfthefball;maybe-rotated by hand; but-when imparted-itc driv machines r 1 1 Theizcords: 2, after `they leave` the eyex- 5, fare .50 fed in an advancing spiral from .the edgegoff onev cumshaped fholdertothe edg'e ofrthe otherfy cup shaped holder .sofrthatl'all of'the` exposed area. ofsthe :center .is: completelyqcovered by a spiral@ Windingienrthe instant 1oase; composed ofrfour 55` separatefparallel cordes-@To perform this func-V i tion ethere.isprovidedza moving applicator which efthe operative parts ot. theal Will lay-Vtliercordsv smoothly and -evenly V'andgvv-ith 1 regularlyfpaced convolutions over..the:.surface, .60 of .the center. In ,the ,vrnachinee shown .thevapplig- Y catoi' moves from .rightto fleft.as ...indicated in Fig-HSS "I I.

Midway offthe--bed plate islocated .alf1ous.... ing... 52 .composed of vertical end.. and side .members .65v which -constitute supports for .the mechanism.. toV be described. The main drive shaft 32 .is. journaledinmhis housing; and...to.the: shaft -is attached a Idrive pinion ,5t .which ,mesheswitna second...piniony 55,.. mounted, onf. a .supplementalgqg i horizontal shaft-56,- carryinga wormw Which.V

mesheswith .a large Worm gear. llcarried oni a cross shaft '6 llinithe housing..52. Shaft. -6 l.v is located on. an Y.axis .which passessubstantially., thronglntheicenteri of. curvature f,of..the ,inten-H 4 A polar element, or meridian, at the zenith of the ball center. The hub of the worm gear, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a smooth round surface and a threaded extremity.

The applicator which is indicated as a Whole at $5 is formed at its lower end as a circular plate 68 which is attached by screws 61 to a driven disk. i'iyhifch iitsrs'nuglyoveri the rounded portion 'offthehub on thee'wormf gearh, but may rotate thereon. The rim of the disk 68 .litsl Within a rabbetedsurface 'l0 on the adjacent Vface ..of..the..Worin4 gear which acts as a driving disk.' A threaded 'collar 'I2 on the extremity of thez.Wormt*gear-.f,hub; isforced against the inner .edgeof'=therdiskland holds the disk and Worm gear in su'i'ciently close frictional engagement so..tha.t the..,-twouelements will rotate in unison unless the arm strikes an obstruction. This also permitsthe applicator. arm to be moved manually Without rotating the Worm gear to any angular position, las in initially.. axingthecords to7 the center at: the ...stel/reci?v .the Winding operation:

Themain applicatorr arm 465 extends a'upwar t. ly .and-rearwardly,.asshownvingl'ig. -3, and-.toffthe; upper end thereof :is: attachedaa -br-acketf'M- .1

to which is' hingedea plate 275.5%l Azlug.fI6-; islpror-- l right-position 'whenn-itris slightly? ilastr..center.A

The :cords ,passifromfthe eyefthroughfholesin .sa plate` 8,47 attachedftorfthe Ytippen siderofethearmrf. 18 and thence through,.holesf85- in-rthe hand 802s' tov the-underside -thereof.1-For convenience the holes 85. are. staggered as fshown-in-.-I-lgs..-=l andro so .thatwthe rcords may be located lin closeproxi.-v

.mity when applied-.tothe'ball:'center.: Fromtf:

ing.V operation, .except at the -,point. Where @there applicator may be lifted n.in :passing 'sever theefl valve stem. 6, `:the hand rests on.,the..fsurfaceef4 the center; andV as Vthezcords, are :onlyfpartially embedded in the grooves B6, the fcords are .rmlyV pressedinto adhesiv'e-relationl with .the surface .of the ball. It will be noted that enough...tension=.zis Vplaced gon. the -cords to. insure. that.. theyare evenly. and smoothly applied.

Referring .particularly` togthe .form ofithe Anf.. vention shown in Figs.-1 tof-3: .-Thaunderside-.ofsi themovable section 18. of theapplicatorr carriesr.: a cam member. which contac-tsandfrid'es .overef a roller 89 on an attachedtothe hous-..-.- ing YE92.` This-lifts.` the movable section.:-,18,.at2 the point Whenth'e applicator earm-..comesintoxalignment with'the valve stem, and-sinSuIves-.that there will beno stoppage. ofthesarmiatethat point.

In. the. case of. the :valve estema-.1, .Which..is rounded as shown in.Fig..;7, theearm-:ridesffuprp 5. and over the valve stem, the inclined under surface of the hand causing the valve stem to raise the applicator as it passes beneath it. While in some cases cords may center themselves on the top of thel valve, it takes only a moment for the 'operator to stop the machine and correct the condition. In many cases no stoppage is necessary. For this operation either the cam 88 or the roller will be removed.

The operation of the machine may be described briey. The operator inserts a fresh ball center between the holders I4 and 24, While the arm 42 is in the position shownin Fig. 3 and the movable applicator arm is raised as shown inl dotted lines. She then turns the center by the hand wheel 26 while coating the center with cement. She then takes the ends of the four cords as they depend from the hand and attaches them to the center at the edge of the cup I4 and allows the hand to rest upon the center. She then presses the lever 50 to start the machine in operation. As the center is turned Iby the shaft 32 the applicator arm moves across the Work at a speed determined so that the cords are laid in a smooth and even manner with the convolutions in close contact over the entire exposed surface of the ball. When the applicator reaches the other end of the center theJ operator raises the lever 5B and the machine stops. She then cuts the cords at a point close to the ball, presses the loose ends down with her ngers and raises the applicator arm. The ball is then engaged with a hook at the valve stem and the chuck opened. The ball is now hung on a drying rack until the cement has dried suciently for the succeeding operations.

It will be seen that a very simple but extremely efficient machine has been devised which will apply a spiral wrapping to a ball center or the like in a very short time. The cords are applied to the center with suiicient pressure exerted either by the weight of the pivoted applicator arm or supplemented by the spring, the use of which is optional. The protruding valve stem presents no problem for the applicator arm either rides up over the valve or is lifted over the valve, depending upon the preference of theomanufacturer.

While the machine is especially adapted for the application of spiral windings of cord on a football or similar athletic ball center, it is not restricted to such a narrow eld, but may be extended to Wider fields Without the exercise of invention and without departing from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for applying a spiral wrapping of cords to an ovoid foot ball center, provided with a protruding valve stem, a chuck for holding the center at its opposite poles, means for rotating the chuck, a pivoted applicator resting upon the surface of the center, grooves on the underside of the applicator communicating with openings through the applicator, and in which the cords are partially embedded and by which they are held in contact with the center, frictional driving means operated in synchronism with the rotation of the chuck to advance the applicator in a plane parallel to the axis of the center, and cam means secured to the machine, located in the path of swing of the aplicator, and adapted to lift the applicator over the valve stem Without interrupting the operation of the machine.

,2. A machine for applying a spiral Wrapping of cords to an ovoid football center provided with a protruding valve stem, a chuck for holding the center at its opposite poles, means for rotating the chuck, an applicator resting on the surface of the center, .grooves in the underside of the applicator communicating with openings through the applicator and in which the cords are partially embedded and by which they are held in contact With the center, a shaft, means for driving the shaft in synchronism with the chuck, a driving disk operated 'by the shaft, an arm in frictional contact with the disk and pivoted about an axis in a plane spaced from the interpolar axis of the ball center, said axes being mutually perpendicular, and the rst-mentioned axis passing substantially through the center of curvature of an inter-polar element of the ball center surface, a ,pivoted connection between the arm and the applicator on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the ball, and cam means located in the path of swing of the applicator, and adapted to lift the applicator over the valve stem without interrupting the cord Winding operation.

PAUL REKETTYE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record` in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS (Addition to 32,318) 

